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Alabama visits LSU in return of Saban

Nov 8, 2008 - 11:18 AM (1) Alabama (9-0) at (15) LSU (6-2), 3:30 pm EST

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (Ticker) -- Louisiana State would love to ruin Alabama's bid for a perfect season and severely damage the Crimson Tide's national championship hopes.

Now the fifth team to hold the No. 1 ranking in the coaches' poll this season, Alabama can clinch the Southeastern Conference West Division title with a win at 15th-ranked LSU on Saturday.

This game takes on even greater significance, however, because it marks the first appearance for Alabama coach Nick Saban in Baton Rouge since he bolted LSU after the 2004 season for the NFL's Miami Dolphins.

Saban guided the Tigers to the national championship in 2003, the school's first since 1958, but he did not leave LSU under the best of circumstances.

Tiger Stadium, never an easy venue for visiting teams, may be even more hostile than normal Saturday.

"Regardless of the reception, my focus is on our team and the job that we have to do," Saban said. "We can't control any of that stuff. This is a part of the game and fans are emotional. We respect their fans and they are great fans and it's certainly nothing personal between us and them, certainly not from my standpoint."

Saban lasted only two seasons in Miami, posting a 15-17 record before replacing Mike Shula at Alabama last season.

His first season in Tuscaloosa ended in disaster as the Crimson Tide finished 7-6 after losing their last four regular-season games. A year later, Saban has Alabama (9-0, 5-0 SEC West) in contention for its first national title since 1992.

"We are not worried about anything except playing our best football so it gives us the best opportunity to be successful," Saban said. "Then when it's all said and done, we'll see what that brings us."

Alabama took a breather from conference play last week to blank Arkansas State of the Sun Belt Conference, 35-0. The Crimson Tide extended their winning streak to 10 games, tied with Penn State and Texas Tech for the longest in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Les Miles replaced Saban at LSU in 2005 and guided the Tigers to another national championship last season. The Tigers' hopes for a third title this decade ended with a 52-38 loss to Georgia on October 25.

"I promise you that (Saban's return) is not (in the locker room) for us," Miles said. "It really is, very honestly, about our football team, what we want to accomplish, the things we are capable of and just playing to our capabilities and playing as well as we can."

While LSU (6-2, 3-2) is still mathematically alive in the SEC West race, it likely has been reduced to the role of spoiler. A loss could end Alabama's national title hopes, but the Crimson Tide still would capture the SEC West title with wins over Mississippi State and Auburn.

Saturday marks the first time a top-ranked team will visit Baton Rouge since 1997.

"They (Alabama) are the No.1-ranked team, and that's something that they'll have to deal with." Miles added. "Certainly, they are deserving of that. I think I voted for them at No. 1 myself. I think there is an enjoyment to compete with the very best, and I think we understand that here, having been ranked No. 1 for some time."

LSU also faced a non-conference opponent last week, posting a 35-10 victory over Tulane.